Flying Coach Club Role and Responsibilities
What is the Flying Coach Programme? The Flying Coach Programme is being delivered across England to benefit clubs, coaches and athletes of a variety of abilities, across all disciplines. Under the scheme, top coaches visit local clubs to work directly with club coaches and assist with the development of their athletes, to help develop coaching expertise in a particular technical event in a practical coaching environment.
What might a Flying Coach visit involve? Flying Coach Visits are generally delivered to support the technical and tactical aspects of the coaches development. The visit will be tailored towards the level and age of the athlete the coach is coaching. Examples below can be used for each discipline/event group: Technical drills for each discipline including adaptation and progressions Endurance Middle distance/long distance/race walking Throws Discus, Javelin, Shot and Hammer Speed Sprints and Hurdles Vertical Jumps (Pole Vault and High Jump) Horizontal Jumps (Long Jump & Triple Jump)
What might a Flying Coach visit involve? Whilst it is expected that the focus of the majority of Flying Coach visits will be the technical development of coaches, clubs are encouraged to address other areas of coach development using the Flying Coach scheme, such as - Strength & Conditioning - Fundamental Movement Skills - Lifestyles (Nutrition, school-training-competing balance) - Sport Psychology (Dealing with competition pressures/ motivation of young athletes) Flying Coach topics are tailored towards the age and ability of the athlete the coach is coaching, along with the discipline. For example, strengthen and conditioning for young athletes training for Middle Distance.
What might a Flying Coach visit involve? Flying Coach Visits typically take place over a number of weeks to ensure that coaches maximise the development opportunities from them. Where appropriate, clubs are encouraged to work together to host the sessions. Flying coach visits may support an identified local skills shortage, area of local expertise, a new Initiative or provide fresh ideas to the coaches.
What is the Cost? Sport England and specialist retailer Sweatshop have agreed to support the project financially until 2011. This means that the Flying Coach Programme can be offered at no cost to clubs! Coaches working on the programme will be paid and provided with kit by England Athletics. As the sessions take place on club training nights, it is the clubs responsibility to book and pay for the facility, and provide the equipment (if applicable)
Case Study Notts AC Flying Coach Visits were used to help develop a new structure for sprints coaching within the club. Visiting coaches worked alongside club coaches to identify current strengths and weaknesses, gaps in provision, and current areas of expertise within the club. Alongside this, technical skills were addressed, including the development of fundamental movement skills. A six week programme was delivered to coaches at the club. This explored traditional movement drills, coaching language (do coaches really mean what they say?), new drills, performance analysis (how it can be used?) and analysis of athletes movement ability. Coaches attended from speed, jumps, and endurance events. Each coach was invited to bring along two of their own athletes to help with the sessions.
Flying Coach Requests Clubs will contact their local CCSO to request a Flying Coach by completing a request form Clubs will demonstrate how their Flying Coach visits will be used to raise the standards of coaching in their club If the CCSO feels the club would benefit from having a Flying Coach visit to their club they will contact an appropriate Flying Coach The flying coach will then contact the club to get more information about the request
What you should do.before When a flying coach makes contact with your club you should discuss in the detail the following: Expectations of your club and your coaches Ability and number of coaches (min of 5 max of 16) Number of athletes that you wish to take part. Remember the coaches are a priority at the session. The number of athletes must be a agreed with the flying coach Specific areas of development so you can focus your sessions Clarify what equipment is available at the club Clarify venue, time and dates Make the flying coach aware of facility risk assessment Anything else you may wish to discuss with them
What should Coaches do.during Flying Coaches will be delivering to coaches coaches are a priority. Raising the standards of coaches and coaching is the number one priority for EA and the Flying Coach Programme is just one way in which EA is looking to achieve this. Please remind your coaches of this. Ask questions to the flying coach on any challenges that they are facing Share good practice with the flying coach and other coaches at the session
What should you do.after Coaches who attended should complete the feedback form and return to either your flying coach or CCSO If your club or network requires further a visit by the same flying coach or a different flying coach please contact your local CCSO. Further sessions must be first agreed by your local CCSO
And Finally Remember flying coaches are there to support the club coach(es) and leave that coach in a better position to help their athletes than before they visited. Flying Coaches are not there to coach the athletes!